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Patented July 26, I898. A. DIATTO.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

(Application filed Dec. 1, 1896A (No Model.)

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A DIATTO ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

(Application filed Dec. 1. 1896.]

3 sheets 2 (No Model.)

N0. 607-,9l9. Patenfed July 26, I898. A. DIATTU.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

(Application filed Dec. 1, 1896.) (No Model.)

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ALFREDO DIATTO, OF TURIN, ITALY.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,919, dated July 26, 1898.

Application filed December 1, 1 8 9 6.

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFREDO DIATTO, a sub-' ject of the King of Italy, residing at Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Tramways with Underground Distribution of the Current, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has relation to electric tramways of the character disclosed in my prior United States patent, No. 550,319, dated N ovember 26, 1895, and the present invention embodies improvements in the apparatus shown and described in said prior patent.

Among the objects in view and sought to be accomplished by the present invention-are to diminish the wear upon the magnet-bar, adapt the same to make proper contact when the car is running over inequalities in the road-bed, strengthen the magnetic field acting upon the movable switch-block of the con tact-piece, maintain the magnetic condition of the magnet-bar when contact with the contact-piece ceases and the current is momentarily interrupted, and improve the detail construction and arrangement of the conduit, box, or casing, all as hereinafter apparent; and the invention consists 'in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of. parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents, diagrammatically, the general arrangement of a system embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the switching mechanism and of the casing or box inclosing the same and showing the movable circuit-closing device or switch-block as attracted by and in contact with the magnetized contact-piece, against which latter the magnet-bar on the car is shown as being in contact. Fig. 8 is a similar section taken at right angles to Fig. 2, showing the contact between the switch-block and contact-piece as broken. Fig. A is a plan view of a casing or box which. incloses the switching mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing the manner of supporting the electromagnets and magnet bar yieldingly from a car. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional detail views of parts of the contact- Serial No. 614,128. (No model.)

piece and its supporting-ri ng and showing the manner of lockin g said contact-piece and ring together.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, S indicates the rails, K the underground conductor for the electric current, and A A, &c., a series of contacts or devices for feeding the current, said contacts being located at proper intervals along the roadway.

G indicates the dynamo for supplying the current; E, an electromotor; M, electromagnets, and a a bar magnetized by said electromagnets, which latter, as well as the electromotor, are carried by a car and properly insulated. The number and position of the electromagnets may of course be varied, and they impart to the bar a polarization of the same nature.

For the purpose of reducing as much as possible the wear of the magnet-bar a and adapt the same to yield to irregularities or unevenness in the roadway or the tracks I employ a bar which is flexible, and the electromagnets M, to the lower ends of whose cores the bar is attached, are yieldingly or flexibly suspended from the car. Any suitable means may be employed for thispurposeas, for instance, flexible cords or ropes Z, attached at opposite sides of the magnets and being connected with springs m, whose tension is capable of being regulated or adjusted by suitable devicesas, for instance, by means of nuts 02, screwing upon threaded ends of hooks n, to which latter the springs are attached. The magnets are further supportedor suspended at their upper ends by suitable connecting means--as, for instance, rings 11 and hooks vj'and the distance be tween the bar a and the ground is regulated to suit requirements bynuts i working upon the threaded ends of the hooks.

In consequence of the described double suspension the bar a bears with only a small portion of its weight against the contactpieces I), presently described, and said bar may readily yield, when required, in an up ward direction.

For the purpose of exposing the movable switch-block dot the contact-piece b to as powerful a magnetic field as possible themercury-receptaole r is carried by an iron bridge piece g,which is supported by projecting ends of upwardly-curved iron pieces h, that are embedded in the insulating material of the casing or box B. The lines of force consequently spread from the projection c of the contactpiece b through the switch-block d, the bridgepiece g, and the curved pieces h.

In the example shown the main conductor is connected to the mercury-receptacle r by means of two wires 10 the latter of which is attached to the lower part f of said receptacle.

The casing or box B, containing the switch mechanism, is molded of suitable insulating material-as, for instance, asphalt concrete and in the upper face of which box is embedded a ring 0, adapted to support and firmly hold the contact-piece b. I prefer to use a locking connection between the contact-piece and its supporting-ring, whereby said contact-piece may be firmly held in position and yet adapted for ready removal for the purpose of gaining access to the interior of the box. To attain this object, I provide the piece I) with one or more lugs or teeth Z) upon its circumferential edge, which teeth are adapted to pass within openings or grooves 0, provided in the inner edge of the ring 0, and by turning the piece I) said teeth are adapted to enter recesses 0 in the ring and wedge firmly against the inclined surfaces 0 The piece I) may be provided with a cavity or recess 19 to receive a suitable toolby which the piece may be turned for fastening it in position or for removing it from the ring 0. The recess b may, when not in use, be filled with suitable filling material.

IVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an electric-railway system of the character described, the combination with a vehicle, of an electromagnet having a yielding or flexible connection with the vehicle, a magnet-bar made flexible to adapt it to yield to irregularities in the tracks, and means for adjusting said magnet and bar relatively to the ground.

2. In an electric-railway system of the character described, the combination with a vehicle, of an electromagnet, a magnet-bar carried thereby, cords having a connection with the magnet, and springs having connection at one end with the vehicle and at the other end with the cords.

3. In an electric-railway system of the character described, the combination with a vehicle, of an electromagnet, a magnet-bar carried thereby, cords having a connection with the magnet, springs having connection at one end with the cords, hooks having connection with the other end of the cords and being threaded, and nuts screwing upon the threaded parts of the hooks and adapted to adjust the tension of the springs.

4. In an electric-railway system of the character described, the combination with a vehicle, of an electromagnet, a magnet-bar carried thereby, cords having a connection with the magnet, springs having connection at one end with the vehicle and at the other end with the cords, a ring and hook connecting the upper part of the magnet with the vehicle said hook having a threaded portion, and a nut screwing upon the threaded portion of the hook, for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with a box or casing, molded of insulating material, of iron arms embeddedin the box and projecting at one end into the cavity of the box to form supports, an iron bridge-piece supported upon the projecting ends of the arms, a mercury-receptacle carried by the bridge-piece, and amovable switch-block within said receptacle.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ALFREDO DIATTO.

Witnesses:

ANTONIO I-IELLoY, EDOARDO RIVOLTQ. 

